Paris, France: A man shot dead by police as he tried to attack a police station on Thursday on the first anniversary of the jihadist assault on Charlie Hebdo had a knife and what appeared to be an explosives vest, the government said.

Representational Image. AP

The man was also heard to shout "Allahu Akbar" as he approached the police station in the multi-ethnic neighbourhood in the north of the capital, the interior ministry said.

"On Thursday morning, a man attempted to attack a policeman at the reception of the police station before being hit by shots from the police," said interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet.

"Bomb disposal experts are at the scene working to secure the site," he said, adding that Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve had left for the scene.

News of the attempted attack came after President Francois Hollande addressed New Year's greetings to France's police and gendarmes, and called for greater cooperation between the security services.

The population of the Goutte d'Or district where the incident occurred is predominantly of north African and sub-Saharan African origin.